Although Bathurst City remains in the box seat to claim one of the two remaining available spots in the Royal Hotel Cup finals, Redbacks will look to win both of their final preliminary games to take any net run rate calculations out of the equation.
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Easier said than done, you’d think, considering they’re taking on an undefeated CYMS outfit in the first of those games on Thursday night. The green and golds have already wrapped up a semi-final spot.
But, based on the somewhat understrength side CYMS are likely to trot out and the Redbacks’ recent form, the Bathurst side probably won’t get a better chance to take down the Twenty20 heavyweights.
The green and golds are expected to be without T20 regulars Tom Satterthwaite, Grant Koch and Ed Wright, at the very least.
Couple that with the fact Bathurst City annihilated Cavaliers in its last start, has been in irresistible nick in Bathurst District Cricket Association’s RSL Cup and has a last-start centurion opening the batting in Joey Coughlan and, well, the Redbacks deserve to be considered favourites on Thursday night.
Coughlan defied illness to punch out 104 in Redbacks’ two-day win over St Pat’s Old Boys but, with experience in the shortest form with Western Zone’s colts and the Central West Wranglers, has bumper T20 credentials too.
“I was actually pretty crook on the day. I sent my skipper a message while I was in change room asking him if he could send someone else in,” Coughlan said, his last top grade ton came against the Saints as well.
“He didn’t get the message so I put my gear on, walked out there and the rest history. It was one of those things that everything lined up on the day.”
“I think I play better against better opposition, [the Saints have] a pretty good attack.”
That’ll help come Thursday, considering CYMS are still expected to have the likes of Chris Novak, Ben McAlpine, Sam Dwyer, Pete Gott and marquee player Mick Delaney in their attack.
“My last two knocks were 100 and 50, so hopefully it can turn into something on Thursday,” Coughlan said, although he confirmed Redbacks will be without hard-hitter Ben Orme.
“That’s a big loss for us. He’s probably our best player with bat and ball. (But) Trent Hemworth and Matt Willis and the likes of those, they can get 40 or 50 in two or three overs.
“In the last few last games, we’ve been getting out in funny ways. We’re still getting use to the format and playing at Wade Park. We’re use to play on decks that stay low and hard, Wade Park you get that good carry and that good pace.”
Thursday’s clash kicks off at 6.30pm at Wade Park.
